I think it would be cool to compile a list of people secret bed baits. There are some crazy things people use out there and I think the BR community would like to hear about them.

 

Mine is a White Super Fluke on a Shaky Head whats yours?

 

Thanks for sharing.

well they are secret....

...Mine is a White Super Fluke on a Shaky Head whats yours?

No longer a secret!! They may not eat it anymore!

I use monster lizards on bed texas rigged, anywhere from 8" - 12" ones.  The bait is to big for the males, so they just keep attacking it but can hardly move it.  The female seems to get tired of watching the male not do his job of protecting the bed and moves in to get the job done.  It sounds silly but it's very effective.  

I have quite a few, my baits are based on what the reaction of the fish is if I bed fish.  I'll just say most of the time it's a jig, tube, hardbait, worm, fluke, A-rig, swimbait.  

Storm bluegills under a bobber.

Flukes on a darter head.

Jigging a spinnerbait.

Bass locked on a bed are usually fasting, and not interested in food.

In my opinion, if there's any secret to catching bedding bass

it's not so much the lure itself, but your delivery technique.

 

There's usually a hot spot in every bed, where trespass raises the hackles of parent bass.

'Any' drop-shot lure dangling over or laying on the hot button is going to provoke parental concern.

 

Roger

Here's my take. I'm with Roger, it's the delivery.

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot-bedding-bass.html

Bass locked on a bed are usually fasting, and not interested in food.

In my opinion, if there's any secret to catching bedding bass

it's not so much the lure itself, but your delivery technique.

There's usually a hot spot in every bed, where trespass raises the hackles of parent bass.

'Any' drop-shot lure dangling over or laying on the hot button is going to provoke parental concern.

Roger

^^ This! ^^ I drop shot a super fluke, I also like to use a hammer swimtail.

Bass locked on a bed are usually fasting, and not interested in food.

In my opinion, if there's any secret to catching bedding bass

it's not so much the lure itself, but your delivery technique.

 

There's usually a hot spot in every bed, where trespass raises the hackles of parent bass.

'Any' drop-shot lure dangling over or laying on the hot button is going to provoke parental concern.

 

Roger

 

"Is going to provoke parental concern"

 

I like that line, it's classy! Of course, I don't like parental concern in general...................

"Is going to provoke parental concern"

 

I like that line, it's classy! Of course, I don't like parental concern in general...................

 

 

You might grow to like it when it's your turn.

You might grow to like it when it's your turn.

 

Oh, it's good for me. My parents always tell me they hope I have a kid like me. Honestly, that'd be just fine. We'd fish every day. Sounds great!

If I had to pick one bait with fish on a bed, it would be a big lizard or a crawfish. Fish on a bed are going to defend their territory and they flat out don't like lizards or crawfish except in their stomach.

I use gill nets. Usually I will net the whole flat and sort them out later. It's better that way cause then I know I didn't miss any big ones.

if there is such a thing as a "lock" for catching bass off beds it's a live bluegill.  make sure it's legal in your state before you try it.

 

when it comes to artificials, i'm with several others here.  90% presentation.  10% bait choice.  there are several little tricks you can use to improve your chances with any bait.

interesting about the delivery, but since this thread asks about baits, im going to name a couple anyways. Lizards of course are a classic. but i also love the pit boss in this situation.

If I had to pick one bait with fish on a bed, it would be a big lizard or a crawfish. Fish on a bed are going to defend their territory and they flat out don't like lizards or crawfish except in their stomach.

 

Technically, lizards are land animals rather than aquatic creatures.

If a lizard falls out of a tree it's capable of swimming on the surface, but they can't swim underwater (Salamanders, YES)

 

Most creatures that are seized by bedding bass don't end up in their stomachs.

More often, the intruder will be ushered outside the nesting territory, then ejected.

This is why many bed-fisherman use small lures, so the bass don't carry the critter by the tail and avoid the hook.

 

Roger

if there is such a thing as a "lock" for catching bass off beds it's a live bluegill.  make sure it's legal in your state before you try it.

 

when it comes to artificials, i'm with several others here.  90% presentation.  10% bait choice.  there are several little tricks you can use to improve your chances with any bait.

Care to elaborate

well they are secret....

laughed so hard.

Actually, lizards are land animals they're not aquatic creatures.

If a lizard falls out of a tree it's capable of swimming on the surface, but they cannot swim underwater (salamanders, yes)

 

Most creatures that are seized by bedding bass do not end up in their stomachs.

More often, the intruder will be ushered outside the nesting territory, then ejected.

This is why some sight-fisherman use small lures, so the bass don't carry the critter by the tail and avoid the hook.

 

Roger

Yep have experienced this a few times. Ill toss a nightcrawler to a bass and it will inhale it swim about 25'-30' away and spit out the crawler, go back to bed. I specifically showed my son this one day.

Actually, lizards are land animals they're not aquatic creatures.

If a lizard falls out of a tree it's capable of swimming on the surface, but they cannot swim underwater (salamanders, yes)

Most creatures that are seized by bedding bass do not end up in their stomachs.

More often, the intruder will be ushered outside the nesting territory, then ejected.

This is why some sight-fisherman use small lures, so the bass don't carry the critter by the tail and avoid the hook.

Roger

A lizard replicates a salamander not an actual lizard which is aquatic, and will destroy bass eggs. These have always been a productive bed bait for me.

ETA: I saw you mentioned a salamander, but I just wanted to add that a lizard replicates a salamander and not a lizard.

I don't know why your all hung up on a colloquialism like lizard… yes, it is supposed to look like an amphibian. It's just a name. Horny toads are lizards, not toads, but we all know what someone means.

As far as nesting fish just clearing the bed, the article I linked above addresses that exact situation.

I could not agree more with J Franko.  It obvious to almost everyone that although the package says lizard,  it represents a salamander.   If you want to get technical, some lizards are quite aquatic and spend a great deal of time swimming., even under water!

My water is to dingy to see beds and the rare times I do see them I cant catch the fish .

Small and white gets the bite. White Baby Rage Craw on a darter head is my go to. I keep it small and low pro because they are only picking it up to move it off the bed. If you use a bigger bait often times you will set the hook and come back with half a lizard or half a worm because the intention was never to eat it, only to pick it up.